Not every Consilium is structured according to Atlantean tradition. Typically, however, there are mages who act as executive officers, those who act as rep- resentatives, those who protect the region and so on — the Storyteller can allot Status-modified powers to those mages who most closely match their respective
offices. In Consilii where multiple mages act in one capacity (such as a Council that has no Hierarch but passes judgment by consensus), Status-modifying pow-
ers require a simple majority to take effect. Other modifications of these rules to accommodate unique structures should be detailed by the Storyteller ahead of
time so players know how Status works in their region.
P
OWERATTHET
OPOnly so many mages can be influential in a single region, so there is a limit to the number of active characters who can hold high levels of Consilium Status. At any one time, only a single mage in a region may hold Consilium Status 5, and a maximum of five mages may hold Consilium Status 4. If the maximum allowable characters
127 Chapter Two: Character
already have a certain level of Status, the Consilium Status of one of the incumbents must first be reduced before another can take his place. These limits do not apply to visiting mages with effective Consilium Status. Note that holding an official position in a region does not grant dots of Consilium Status or any guarantee of esteem. The rough equivalencies between Consilium Status and the positions provided on the table on p. 80 by the Status Merit serve as guidelines — characters in official positions and with significantly lower Consilium Status than suggested likely don’t rest easy in their roles. The actual naming of positions other than those described here occurs purely through roleplaying.
T
HEP
OWERSOFC
ONSILIUMO
FFICERSVarious positions within the Consilium have the ability to modify Consilium Status. The Hierarch, Councilors and Heralds of a Consilium are unique in that they have points as well as dots of Consilium Status. Just as Willpower points, these Status points can be spent for a variety of effects. They replenish every chapter (or every month, if your chronicle meets more frequently). If an individual stops holding a position that grants Status points, the character immediately loses access to their effects, and any new officer can only use the points that remain unspent for the month. An election or appointment doesn’t refresh the pool until the beginning of the next chapter or month. To see how many Status points a character has, see the sections on the indi- vidual positions below.
Points of Consilium Status can be spent to award another character a permanent dot of Consilium Status or to remove one (depending on the powers of the office). No officer can grant more than one dot to a single character within the same chapter, but the official can remove more than one dot at one time (at a cost of one point per dot in either case). No character can affect her own Consilium Status with these points, but characters can affect one another’s Status as appropriate. However, officers granting each other more than one dot within six chapters is a sin against the Consilium (see the “Sins Against the Consilium” chart, p. 131.
A character’s last dot of Consilium Status cannot be removed due to the expenditure of Status points. Only the Hierarch, Councilors, and Sentinel have the ability to strip that last dot, and they do so without any expenditure of Status points (see below).
• The Hierarch: The Hierarch’s Status points are equal to his personal Consilium Status. The Hierarch can spend Status points to grant or remove dots of Consilium Status (as described above). Further, the Hierarch can grant the first dot of Consilium Status to any character who otherwise has no Consilium Status, and at no cost to him- self in Status points. The Hierarch can similarly strip a character who has (or has been reduced to) Consilium Status 1 of that last dot. The Hierarch does so by casting the character out of the Consilium or by clearly implying he no longer cares for her fate.
In cities with no Hierarch, the highest Consilium Status of any of the Councilors or other ruling mages equals the points that are at the disposal of the group to spend for the purposes of these powers. Allocating them usually requires a previous arrangement among ruling mages and the Storyteller (whether it’s a majority vote every time, or any- one may access the points whenever they want to without consultation). Councilors in such an arrangement retain their own Status-modifying powers as well — see p. 128.
There can usually be only a single Hierarch in a city, but there are instances when two or more rival Hierarchs claim control over a Consilium and refuse to recognize one another’s
claims. Most times the Council or a Duel Arcane settles this dispute, but once in a while the cabals of the Consilium are asked to support one candidate or another (particularly com- mon in Consilii where the Free Council holds a lot of sway). In this case, calculate the total Consilium Status dots of all active characters who support each contender. The contender with the highest total is considered the Hierarch and gains all the benefits detailed above.
• The Councilors: Usually the most respected members of each Path stand as the Consilium’s Councilors. If there is a dispute over who a Path’s Councilor is, the con- tender with the highest Consilium Status is the rightful officer. (In Consilii where the Councilors represent orders or cabals, replace all references to “Path” in this section with the appropriate subgroup.) If only a single member of a given Path has been visible or active in a Consilium over the previous three chapters, the other Councilors do not have to accept a Councilor from that Path.
Each Councilor has a number of Status points equal to his Consilium Status dots. Councilors are seen as those who have the most contact and connection with their constituency, and thus are able to grant or remove Consilium Status dots from those of their constituency (including the first Consilium Status dot, which does not require the expenditure of Status points, just as the Hierarch). This doesn’t extend to another Coun- cilor or the Hierarch if either also falls under another Councilor’s constituency.
Further, a simple majority of Councilors may each spend one point to increase or decrease the Hierarch’s or another Councilor’s Status by one point (commonly used to reward wise Councilors or punish those who excessively promote their own constitu- ency). Heralds and Hierarchs can modify a Councilor’s status as normal.
• The Provosts: A Provost is an assistant to a particular Councilor. Provosts can be selected by each of the Councilors although a Councilor is under no obligation to do so. Many times, the Provost is the person the average mage is likely to see on Consilium business, and therefore, Provosts usually keep a record of the various favors other mages are owed (and watch over rites when mages formally exchange those favors). Sometime both the mage offering the favor and the mage receiving it each bring a Provost to watch over the rite, just to make sure that each side has his own witness. If a mage is found to have broken his word over a favor, the Provost can reduce the mage’s Consilium Status by one once per chapter (although a Provost cannot remove the first dot of Consilium Status). Further, the Provosts often arrange meetings for the Councilors the Provosts work for and have to be intimately aware of the standing of each person with whom they speak. Therefore, a Provost can automatically succeed at a test to learn another mage’s Consilium Status once per chapter, even one the Provost had previously failed. A Provost cannot also be a Councilor or Hierarch.
• The Heralds: Each Herald retains her own personal Consilium Status dots but gains access to a pool of Status points equal to the Hierarch’s own Consilium Status or the Councilor with the highest Consilium Status dots, whichever is higher (even if that means she has more points than dots). Although a Herald’s pool of points starts at the same number as another mage’s, the pools are distinct — each Herald spends points in the pool unrelated to the points of the Hierarch or Councilor. All Heralds use the points in the same Status point pool, so a point spent by one Herald is unavail- able to another Herald in the same Consilium. The Heralds are the main source of news in the Consilium — thus, a Herald has the ability to spend Status points to add or remove Consilium Status dots from others but cannot add or remove the first dot of Consilium Status. A Herald cannot also be a Councilor or Hierarch.
129 Chapter Two: Character
• The Sentinels: A Sentinel has no Consilium Status points of his own but can remove dots from mages found to be violating the laws of the Consilium at no cost. He does so at his sole discretion and may remove up to one dot per chapter from any single mage as long as the mage is publicly known to have violated the local Lex Magica in some manner. A Sentinel can remove a mage’s last dot of Consilium Status in this manner. A Sentinel cannot also be a Councilor or Hierarch.
S
CORNANDC
OMMENDATIONA mage can earn the enmity of his peers as well as that of the officers of the Con- silium, and they may seek to scorn him in public. The reason for the scorning must be publicly announced (whether at a formal gathering of mages, a party where most of the mages are present or a common message area) with all of the scorning mages visibly supporting the announcement. These announcements are usually witnessed by a neutral Provost or Herald to add validity. The scorning mages total their Consilium Status dots. During this display, other mages can stand up and support the target of scorn, subtracting their Consilium Status dots from those of the scorning mages. If the total Consilium Status dots of the scorning mages equal 10 times that of the target, the target mage’s Consilium Status is reduced by one dot.
On the other hand, a wizard may gain the respect of those around him, and they may seek to commend him. As with scorning, the reason for the commendation must be publicly announced with all of the commending mages visibly present. The commend- ing mages total their Consilium Status dots while other mages can publicly refute the subject of commendation by subtracting their Consilium Status dots from the pool of the commending mages. If the total Consilium Status dots equal 10 times that of the target, the target mage’s Consilium Status is increased by one dot.
Regardless of success or failure, that target mage cannot be the object of scorn or com- mendation again for three chapters, although he is still subject to the Status-modifying powers of other officers. In other words, he can be scorned once and commended once every three chapters.
P
UNISHMENTSometimes, mages need to be punished. Whenever a Ruling Council sentences a mage to judgment, the punishment often has a specific duration, usually called a stigma. A Ruling Council may, aside from other punishments, decide to alter a mage’s Consilium Status either for the duration of the stigma or permanently. Modification of a criminal’s Consilium Status must be done per the Status modification rules presented previously, including banishment. A criminal sentenced to imprisonment or spiritual scourging (see pp. 180-181) by unanimous decision of the Ruling Council temporarily has no Consilium Status dots for the duration of his stigma — criminals who are sentenced to such a fate without the full consent of the Council retain their Consilium Status, but it may still be modified as normal. The Hierarch or the Councilors may choose to end the stigma prema- turely, thus immediately returning the criminal’s Status dots to him. Note that any mage may take action against another mage with no Consilium Status, and the victim usually has no recourse within the Consilium (although sometimes there are exceptions).
T
HEP
ASSAGEOFT
IMEConsilium Status depends on remaining socially active in a region. A mage who shows up at every social function or whose name comes up a great deal is likely to have
significant standing. Conversely, one who vanishes from sight for months on end sees her position erode very quickly.
• Activity: For every 10 consecutive chapters that a mage has been active in a particular region, acknowledged by its Hierarch or a Councilor and has called it her home region, she gains a dot of Consilium Status. This automatic gain can never raise Consilium Status above 3.
• Inactivity: For every five consecutive chapters that a mage is not visibly active in her home region (spending too much time in her lab, or maybe sitting as a hermit in the Shadow Realm), she has her Consilium Status reduced by one. The character cannot lose her first dot of Consilium Status in this way.
The Storyteller overseeing the region determines activity. If a player attends a game in character, that character is clearly active. Posting on in-character mailing lists or other remote activities may also qualify, at the Storyteller’s discretion. Players can maintain several characters so long as activity requirements for each are upheld.
A
DJUDICATINGS
TATUSC
HANGESConsilium Status is very fluid and changes largely at the discretion of the players portraying the Consilium officers. Storytellers always have the right to step in if they feel an official’s player is being abusive, however. Favoritism and pettiness among characters are appropriate, but not among players. To help players and Storytellers in determining when an increase or decrease in Consilium Status is justified, the following table presents a series of praiseworthy deeds and sins ranked by dots. In general, Hierarchs and Heralds are justified in stripping Consilium Status from characters who commit sins at their rank of Consilium Status or below. Meanwhile, a character who regularly does a praiseworthy deed of a rank higher than his cur- rent Consilium Status can qualify for an increase from the Hierarch or the mage’s Councilor. Avoiding sins and praiseworthy deeds can also justify changes in Status. Those who stalwartly avoid Status sins (especially those above their current rating) may be worthy of an increase while those who fail to accomplish the deeds associated with their current dots or below may well be in for a loss of Status. As always, individual judgment should come into play.
Praiseworthy Deeds for the Consilium
Status Deeds
••••• Significantly expanding the region’s overall power, resources or reputation in a significant way; assuming a position of leadership in the city; achieving a rank of
fifth-degree master
•••• Expanding the region’s overall power, resources or reputation in a minor way; removing a significant obstacle or threat to local mages; achieving a rank of fourth-
degree master
••• Devising and implementing plans that further the goals of the Consilium; carrying out specific plans beyond the norm on behalf of the Consilium; achieving a rank of third-degree master; consistently winning
Duels Arcane
••••• Significantly expanding the region’s overall power, resources or reputation in a significant way; assuming a position of leadership in the city; achieving a rank of
fifth-degree master
••• Devising and implementing plans that further the goals of the Consilium; carrying out specific plans beyond the norm on behalf of the Consilium; achieving a rank of third-degree master; consistently winning Duels Arcane
131 Chapter Two: Character Status Deeds
•• Actively promoting loyalty to the
Consilium; obeying the edicts of all Consilium officers; being recognized as the sole leader of a member cabal; being recognized as a member of a legacy; achieving a rank of second-degree master
• Defending the region against outside
threats; regularly attending local mage social functions (without being disruptive); achieving a rank of first-degree master
Sins Against the Consilium
Status Deeds
••••• Speaking ill of the Consilium or its leadership in public; becoming known as a thrall to another mage
•••• Failing to attend regular gatherings of the local mages; flagrantly ignoring a trivial favor; actively disrupting a gathering of the local mages; suffering a minor or mild reprimand by the Ruling Council; being defeated in a Duel Arcane
••• Hindering a local industry or resource; killing a local mortal in a suspicious manner without good cause; flagrantly ignoring a minor favor; suffering a major reprimand; Consilium officers exchanging Consilium Status awards with one another more than once every six chapters; threatening the law of secrecy
•• Accidental public violations of the Lex Magica; flagrantly ignoring a major favor; deliberate private violations of the Lex Magica; suffering a severe reprimand; murdering prominent local mortals without dire need; actively disobeying
Consilium officers
• Deliberate public violations of the Lex Magica; being incarcerated, scourged or banished; failing to uphold the results of a Duel Arcane; flagrantly ignoring a life favor; wanton slaying of mortals or destruction of property;betraying resident mages to outsiders (Seers of the Throne, the Mad, rival Consilii in a time of war, etc.)
• Defending the region against outside
threats; regularly attending local mage social functions (without being disruptive); achieving a rank of first-degree master
••••• Speaking ill of the Consilium or its leadership in public; becoming known as a thrall to another mage
••• Hindering a local industry or resource; killing a local mortal in a suspicious manner without good cause; flagrantly ignoring a minor favor; suffering a major reprimand; Consilium officers exchanging Consilium Status awards with one another more than once every six chapters; threatening the law of secrecy
• Deliberate public violations of the Lex Magica; being incarcerated, scourged or banished; failing to uphold the results of a Duel Arcane; flagrantly ignoring a life favor; wanton slaying of mortals or destruction of property;betraying resident mages to outsiders (Seers of the Throne, the Mad, rival Consilii in a time of war, etc.)